Pangasinan News August 2018

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Pangasinan Province - Archived News
Interactive Google Satellite Map of Pangasinan Province, Philippines
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Map Locator of Pangasinan Province
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The Capitol Building of Pangasinan in the municipality of Lingayen

Dietary supplement is a product that contains vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals, amino acids, enzymes, and/or other ingredients intended to supplement the diet. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has special labeling requirements for dietary supplements and treats them as foods, not drugs.

Manufacturers and distributors of dietary supplements and dietary ingredients are prohibited from marketing products that are adulterated or misbranded. That means that these firms are responsible for evaluating the safety and labeling of their products before marketing to ensure that they meet all the requirements of DSHEA and FDA regulations.

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Pangasinan State University, Asingan Campus
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Church in Aguilar Pangasinan

Wars of ancient history were about possessions, territory, power, control, family, betrayal, lover's quarrel, politics and sometimes religion.

But we are in the Modern era and supposedly more educated and enlightened .

Think about this. Don't just brush off these questions.

  • Why is RELIGION still involved in WARS? Isn't religion supposed to be about PEACE?
  • Ask yourself; What religion always campaign to have its religious laws be accepted as government laws, always involved in wars and consistently causing WARS, yet insists that it's a religion of peace?

WHY??

There are only two kinds of people who teach tolerance:
  1. The Bullies. They want you to tolerate them so they can continue to maliciously deprive you. Do not believe these bullies teaching tolerance, saying that it’s the path to prevent hatred and prejudice.
  2. The victims who are waiting for the right moment to retaliate. They can’t win yet, so they tolerate.
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Tondol Beach, Anda

GSIS offers emergency loan for members in Pangasinan

By Liwayway Yparraguirre (PNA)

DAGUPAN CITY, Pangasinan -- Government employees who are active members of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) and are residing or working in the province of Pangasinan can now avail of the calamity or emergency loan.

Josephine Abao, GSIS-Pangasinan branch head, in an interview Friday said applications for emergency loan was opened on Tuesday and will end on September 6, 2018.

Abao said the opening of the emergency loan application was due to the declaration of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan placing the province under state of calamity by virtue of Provincial Resolution 437-2018 on July 23.

Governor Amado Espino III urged the provincial board to pass the resolution on the declaration of state of calamity as tropical cyclones “Inday” and “Josie” intensified the southwest monsoon thus bringing heavy rainfall which submerged most parts of Pangasinan for more than a week.

Abao said first-time borrowers can avail of PHP20,000 loan from GSIS, with an interest rate of 6 percent and payable in three years.

She noted members with existing or unpaid calamity loan can avail of PHP40,000 loan.

“Bakit mas malaki? Kung meron silang balanse o hindi pa nakapagbayad ng utang, ibabawas ito sa PHP40,000. May net proceeds o may matitira pa sa kanila (Why those with existing loans will get higher amount? If they have unpaid loan, it will be deducted from the PHP40,000. An amount will still be left for them),” she explained.

Abao said GSIS members with eCard, or Unified Multi-Purpose Identification (UMID) cards, have to just go to any GSIS Wire Automated Processing System (G-W@PS).

“They need not go, however, to the GSIS office. They may avail of the calamity or emergency loan at the GSIS kiosks near their place,” she stressed.

Abao said there are kiosks at the city or municipal halls of Alaminos, Dagupan, San Carlos, Urdaneta, Rosales, Tayug, Manaoag, Bayambang, Infanta, Bolinao and Lingayen, as well as in Pangasinan I Schools Division in Lingayen, Pangasinan II Schools Division in Binalonan, and at Robinsons Mall in Calasiao.

Abao said even old-age pensioners can avail of the loan amounting to PHP20,000.

They, however, have to personally appear at the GSIS provincial office for an over-the-counter application, she said.

“Our processors will validate the identity of the borrower. They have to bring an identification card, their eCard, and fill-out the application form,” she added.

Abao said new pensioners, who received their lump sum pension and would only start receiving their pension after five years, cannot avail of the emergency loan yet.

OWWA allots P5-M worth of initial assistance for ‘Tulong Puso’ program

By Miriam P. Aquino (JNPD/MPA/PIA-1, La Union)

SAN FERNANDO CITY, August 9 (PIA) -- The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) in the Ilocos Region has an initial P5 million-worth of livelihood assistance ready to be provided to eligible Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) organizations.

According to Dolly Anne Camacho, head of Reintegration Unit of OWWA Region 1, the program dubbed ‘Tulong Pangkabuhayan sa Pag-unlad ng Samahang OFWs’ or Tulong Puso is offered to organized and OWWA-recognized OFW organizations.

The organizations may be composed of OFWs who are either returnee or inactive, OFW dependent, and repatriated or displaced, as long as they are documented.

“It is a mechanism of the OWWA to urge OFW organizations or groups to put up new livelihood programs or businesses,” Camacho said.

Together with their partners like the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Department of Agriculture (DA), the OWWA will conduct enterprise development training and other social preparation intervention to equip OFW groups all the vital skills and trainings to ensure high success rates of prospective project they want to start.

“This aims to help OFWs in terms of either livelihood formation, restoration, or enhancement of existing business or project,” added Camacho.

Under this program, accredited OFW organizations can avail of livelihood assistance amounting to P250,000 to P1 million for raw materials, equipment, and other necessities to start their own business or livelihood of choice.

Qualified OFW organizations with accreditation from Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) are qualified for the Tulong Puso Program.

Requirements to avail of the program include: project proposals to be the OWWA Region1 together with their Certificate of Entrepreneurship Development Training (for start-up/formation); copy of DOLE/SEC/CDA Registration; Organizational Profile and Individual Personal Information; Business Permit issued from the Local Government Unit (LGU); Business Project (which shows the capacity of the proponent to provide a 20 percent equity from the total project cost).

“The equity could be the counterpart of the LGU like lot donation, building, or shop,” Camacho said.

The OFW organizations from the municipalities of Rosales, Asingan, and Mangaldan in Pangasinan and Aringay, Sudipen and Luna in La Union have passed their project proposals and are now awaiting finalization.

They are also already set for an Enterprise Development Training orientation and seminar.

Meanwhile, the Bacarra, llocos Norte OFW Organization recently underwent an EDT.

“Other proposals are for submission, pending the inclusion of the feasibility studies and the required equity or counterpart from the proponent LGU,” she said.

The P5 million initial allocation for Region 1 has been downloaded in April for projects supposed to be funded for the first quarter of 2018.

Prov’l gov't asks POEA to set up office in Pangasinan

By Hilda Austria (PNA)

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan -- Pangasinan’s Migration and Development Council (MDC) has asked, through a resolution, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) to establish a satellite office in the province to cater to the overseas employment services needs of Pangasinenses.

MDC-Pangasinan chairperson Alex Ferrer, in an interview Wednesday, said they initiated the request since a substantial number of Pangasinenses, especially those from western Pangasinan, had to travel three to four hours to get to the nearest POEA office in San Fernando City, La Union or Clark, Pampanga.

Ferrer is also the Provincial Employment and Services Officer of the province.

“Since the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has its consular office in a mall in Calasiao town, where there is also the one-stop shop of national government agencies, such as Social Security System, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG Fund), among others, hence, we thought, why not the POEA satellite office also?” he explained.

Ferrer noted that Pangasinenses would save time, money and effort with a POEA satellite office in the province.

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan members passed Provincial Resolution No. 1738-2018 entitled, “Requesting the POEA to set up a satellite office in the province near the DFA satellite office at Robinsons Place in Calasiao Pangasinan” on Monday.

Ferrer said he will personally submit the resolution and the endorsement letter from Governor Amado Espino III to the POEA Center for Luzon in San Fernando City, La Union.

“We are optimistic that the response of POEA to this request will be favorable to us for our province mates,” he added.

Pangasinan town council mandates strict 'Buwan ng Wika' observance

By Ahikam Pasion (PNA)

MANGALDAN, Pangasinan -- Local and national government employees here are mandated to use the Filipino or Pangasinan language in verbal business transactions and other proceedings this month, in observance of the "Buwan ng Wika".

This was stated in Resolution No. 2018-68, authored by Councilor Aldrin Soriano and passed on July 30.

“Business transactions and proceedings in all government offices in the town will be spoken in Filipino or Pangasinan language, to which English has been the norm,” Soriano said in an interview Monday afternoon.

He noted that this is the first time in the history of the municipal council of Mangaldan to adopt a resolution, which commands strict observance of the Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa by speaking in Filipino or Pangasinan language.

“The Philippine Constitution says that we need to initiate and sustain the use of Filipino as our language,” Soriano said.

Memorandum Circular 2018-101 of the Department of the Interior and Local Government also mandates the conduct and active participation of local government units in activities and programs for the Buwan ng Wika, which would promote the use of the national language, he added.

No penalty will be imposed, however, on those who will fail to follow the said resolution, Soriano noted.

San Carlos City eyes turning plastic waste into chairs

By Hilda Austria (PNA)

SAN CARLOS CITY, Pangasinan -- The city government here has assembled a machine that will turn plastic waste, such as candy wrappers, shampoo sachets, and junk food containers, into armchairs.

“We know that candy wrappers, shampoo sachets and other plastic wastes take a hundred years to decompose, causing problems to our drainage systems, that is why we came up with this project in order to recycle these materials,” Mayor Joseres Resuello said in an interview on Friday.

The equipment can make one plastic armchair out of every 24 kg. of soft plastic waste, hence, the city government partnered with the Department of Education to provide the plastic raw materials, he said.

Soft plastics are any plastic that can be easily broken or crushed by hands.

"The schools will have one armchair for every 30 kg. of plastic they provide. Of course, there are excesses to the required kilograms of plastic. These will be used to make more armchairs," Resuello said.

He said one of the members of the Filipino Inventors Society (FIS), who hails from Bugallon town, assembled the machine, which is a prototype of the equipment used by the plant of Senator Cynthia Villar in Las Piñas, that will enable them to accomplish the project.

“Felipe Pamintuan, a barangay captain in Bugallon and member of the FIS, copied the specifications of the equipment and made it into a machine shop here. We spent around PHP1.9 million for it but we were able to save since it costs around PHP2.5 to PHP3 million in the market, aside from the fact that is locally made by our provincemate,” the mayor said.

Resuello said the training for the use of the equipment will start as soon as Villar turns over the armchair mold that they use.

“We are waiting for the mold. Maybe it is still being done. We will just wait in order to save PHP1.5 million, which is the cost of the mold,” he added.

Pangasinan town to hold seminar vs disinformation

By Ahikam Pasion (PNA)

MANGALDAN, Pangasinan -- This town will conduct its second journalism seminar-workshop to enable participants particularly campus journalists to think critically and identify truth.

“This is in line with the celebration of the International Youth Day on August 12, and to help young ones, especially campus journalists, to think critically and identify the truth – despite the rampant spread of disinformation nowadays,” Councilor Aldrin Soriano said in an interview Friday.

Initiated by Soriano, the seminar-workshop will be held on August 11 at Gueguesangen Integrated School here.

He said it is open to all students in Mangaldan public and private schools, in preparation for the upcoming Division Schools Press Conference later this year.

“I am glad that in our second seminar-workshop, about 500 students have agreed to join and learn,” he added.

Soriano said speakers for the workshop are topnotch people from the media, and champions in their craft.

PhilHealth-Ilocos eases requirement for benefits availment

By By Hilda Austria (PNA)

DAGUPAN CITY — The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) Regional Office in Region 1 (Ilocos Region) has mandated health care institutions (HCIs) not to require Philhealth members to submit the member data record (MDR) in availing benefits.

Joseph Abuan Manuel, information officer of PhilHealth-Ilocos, in an interview Wednesday afternoon, said Regional Vice President Alberto Manduriao issued an advisory last month informing HCIs in Region 1 that MDR is no longer a mandatory requirement for PhilHealth benefits availment.

He said the advisory is in support of the nationwide implementation of the Electronic Claims System.

“Since we are in the transition from paper to paperless system, our regional vice president issued the advisory. Wherein, the updating of members' data can be done through the hospitals accredited by PhilHealth," Manuel said.

The member should just fill-out the form and submit to the hospital the required documents, and the hospital will electronically send it to PhilHealth.

"Within that day, the updating of member data will be accomplished,” he added.

This gives the watchers or the family members more time to watch over their patients instead of going to PhilHealth offices to get an MDR, he added.

Manuel noted that the measure is just a corrective way to the system to make sure that the data are updated in PhilHealth’s system.

“However, we encourage the members to update their data in PhilHealth’s office in their respective town or city even when they still do not need it. Filipinos sometimes have the habit, wherein they only update their data when they are hospitalized,” he said.

"Likewise, proof of contribution shall only be required if the system prompted and required an updated member's contribution upon eligibility checking," the advisory stated.

Manuel admitted that they are monitoring some of the hospitals in the region that are not complying with the said advisory.

"Non-compliance would mean a breach of Warranties of Accreditation or Performance Commitment and shall be dealt with in accordance with the pertinent provision of Republic Act 7875, as amended, and its implementing Rules and Regulations," the advisory also stated.

Job Fair on Wheels in Pangasinan slated on Aug. 9

By Hilda Austria (PNA)

SAN NICOLAS, Pangasinan -- The Public Employment Service Office (PESO) in Pangasinan, through its Job Fair on Wheels, will bring employment opportunities, including 'live-out' housekeeping in Japan, to jobseekers in this town on August 9.

PESO provincial officer Alex Ferrer, in an interview Wednesday, said the latest international job opening offered by their office is housekeeping in Japan for female workers age 23 to 45 years old, and at least high school graduate.

“It is a live-out and the work is only eight hours a day. Beyond eight hours, their work will be compensated as overtime. There is no placement fee and we also offer free Nihonggo language training,” he said.

Ferrer further said the job fair also brings other job opportunities both in the local and international markets.

“EEI Corporation, one of the leading construction companies in the country, will also hire thousands of construction workers and they offer Manila rate pay,” he said.

PESO Pangasinan will also open the registration for the 15-day skills training with PHP200 daily allowance, sponsored by EEI, said Ferrer.

Other job vacancies are for production operators, room attendant, security guards, accounting staff, sewer, company nurse, office staff, encoder, mechanical engineer, machine operators, human resource assistant, trailer or dump truck driver, cashiers, clerks, baggers, waiters, bakers, system programmer, secretary, and many more.

Ferrer said five to six employers from the local and international markets will join the job fair to be held in front of the San Nicolas Municipal Hall from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“We hope the applicants will be there early as rain pours mostly in the afternoon, so it will not be so inconvenient for them,” he added.

New DOST oneSTore hub to open in Pangasinan

By Hilda Austria (PNA)

A ONESTORE Hub, a one-stop-shop of Department of Science and Technology (DOST)-assisted products from all over Ilocos region, will open in San Carlos City, Pangasinan, on August 11.

“Food and non-food products can be bought from the oneSTore hub, which will be managed by the Filipino Investors Society Producers of the Philippines Cooperative (FISPC) Pangasinan chapter,” said Alexa Apostol, Science Research Specialist of the DOST Provincial Office in Pangasinan.

She added that the FISPC will be in-charge of collecting and marketing the different products of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in the region.

“Aside from the products, the oneSTore here will also offer machineries and food processing equipment since the FISPC partnered with the Metalworking Industries Association of the Philippines,” Apostol said.

She noted that this is the second oneSTore hub to open in the region, with the first one launched in San Fernando City, La Union.

“The oneSTore hub situated in Urdaneta City, Pangasinan, which opened last year but eventually closed due to inaccessibility of the location, was moved here in San Carlos City, at the Roxas Boulevard in the city proper,” Apostol said.

“We invite everyone to come and visit the oneSTore hub,” she added.

Dagupan to ask DPWH rebuild, reinforce dikes

(With report from Leonardo Micua, Sunday Punch)
SINOCALAN RIVER, CAUSE OF FLOODING

OTHER causes and solutions to the prolonged flood that hit Dagupan for almost two weeks aside from the Sinocalan River will be discussed on August 6 when the city council holds a committee hearing.

The hearing will discuss a draft resolution presented by Councilor Jose Netu Tamayo requesting Public Works Secretary Mark Villar to prepare and implement a more comprehensive flood control program for the province, particularly, towns traversed by the Sinocalan River.

The resolution seeks to request Secretary Villar initially to fast track the construction of sturdier dikes along the Sinocalan River in Sta. Barbara to fully protect the city from massive flooding.

Tamayo presented his draft resolution during the last regular session of the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) at the Event Center of the Metro Plaza. (The SP session located at the third floor of the SP building was used as storage area for office records, supplies and equipment when the first floor of city hall was inundated).

Invited to the committee hearing are officials of the DPWH, especially its flood control office, city engineer’s office, city planning office, barangay captains and business sector.

Tamayo said the prolonged flood in Dagupan City was aggravated by the collapse of an earth dike along the Sinocalan River at the height of torrential rains over a wide area in Pangasinan and the Cordilleras.

He said the torrential rains that started July 18 caused by the southwest monsoon, exacerbated by Typhoons “Inday “and “Josie”, made Sinocalan River swell and overflowed its banks.

Mayor Belen Fernandez reported over P100-million damages to aquaculture/fisheries and infrastructure as a result of the one-week flooding. Classes were also suspended for a week.

The ordeal of the Dagupeños, he said, will continue unless the dikes along the Sinocalan River are restored and reinforced to withstand bigger volume of water.

He added that the city and the provincial government cannot possibly fund the cost of reconstructing the damaged dikes, the city has to appeal to Secretary Villar to build the structure.

The Dagupan SP learned that the DPWH already completed three flood control projects in Central Iloilo town and soon to finish another 12 flood mitigation structures in Leyte.

Since Dagupan is the catch basin of all water coming from the uplands through the Sinocalan River, the city government appeals to DPWH to include Dagupan and Pangasinan as beneficiaries of its flood control projects.

The DPWH, upon the request of Mayor Belen Fernandez, sent three dredging machines to Dagupan, one of which bogged down and needs immediate repair.

The dredging machine needing repair is the biggest of three that can dredge the sandbars that accumulated at the mouth of the Calmay River to the Lingayen Gulf.

San Carlos City to host Sci-Tech Caravan 2018

By Hilda Austria (PNA)

SAN CARLOS CITY, Pangasinan -- The Science and Technology (S&T) Caravan 2018, which will offer free technology training courses for livelihood, will be held in this city on August 14-16.

“The priority technology trainings of the local government unit include bamboo weaving and bag-making since bamboo is an abundant material in the city, and also the T-shirt making or printing. These trainings will be helpful in providing livelihood for the people, wherein we could help them acquire facilities and equipment later on from concern government agencies,” said Director Felicidad Gan of the Department of Science and Technology’s (DOST) office in Pangasinan in an interview on Friday.

Meat processing and mushroom production are also part of the technology training courses to be conducted at San Carlos Training Center and City Agriculture Training Center, Gan added.

“The trainings are for free, with 30 participants coming from the host city, while we will also accept sit-ins from other municipalities. The caravan is free admission, so everyone is welcome,” she said.

Other services offered during the caravan are medical assessment, scholarship campaign, free calibration, technology for a, and interactive science exhibits.

Real Life Experience in a Box (RxBox) Medical Assessment, calibration of weighing scale of market vendors and health care centers, which can be availed of for free, will be held at the Arenas Resuello Sports Complex.

“Students will also enjoy the exhibits at the San Carlos City Gymnasium since these are interactive,” Gan said.

She added that six schools from the 3rd district of Pangasinan will receive a Science and Technology Academic and Research-Based Openly Operated Kiosks (STARBOOKS) digital library on August 16.

“Students can do their research through the STARBOOKS, where they could also access the technologies DOST is developing among other helpful materials and information,” Gan said.

The three-day caravan, she said, aims to raise awareness and appreciation of the department’s programs and projects in the countryside and remote areas; create potential investment opportunities on matured technologies towards establishment of technology; come up with agreement and undertakings that will result in S&T project implementation; determine and provide possible technical assistance needed by the city and motivate the youth to appreciate science and technology in a fun and interactive way.

Gan added that they are targeting a total of 3,000 participants from the farmers and fisherfolk sector, women’s groups, senior citizens’ associations, teachers and students, government and non-government employees from the city, and its neighboring municipalities in the 3rd District of Pangasinan.

Mayor Joseres Resuello of this city thanked the DOST for bringing the caravan to their city as he deemed it necessary to encourage his constituents, especially the young people, to know more and develop more technology.

“There are children here who are not that exposed to technology, especially those from far- flung barangays, so this is very useful for them to experience it for themselves,” Rusuello said.

City police chief, Supt. Ferdinand de Asis, assured the security in the venues and the orderly conduct of the training courses and exhibits.

“We will deploy 30 policemen and other security groups to provide assistance during the three-day caravan,” de Asis said.

The caravan is the project of DOST-Pangasinan, in partnership with the city government of San Carlos.

The S&T Caravan 2018 will also be held in Aguilar town on Aug. 28-30, while the Regional S&T Caravan will be in Alaminos City on September 18-21.

Free Wash Week Provides Relief For Flood Victims In Dagupan

[Featuresdesk (ICG)]

Samsung Philippines Electronics Corp. dispatched several washing machines to provide flood affected families access to clean clothes through its free laundry services in Dagupan City, Pangasinan.

On July 21, the city was placed under a state of calamity after experiencing continuous rains brought by enhanced southwest monsoon due to tropical storm Inday.

“Disasters such as this recent typhoon leave families without access to proper facilities that lead to sanitation concerns,” said Kevin Lee, Samsung Philippines Managing Director. “We want to help the people of Dagupan to forge ahead in spite of this trying time. Through this act of service, we aspire to get them back on their feet right away.”

With its commitment and corporate citizenship efforts to create positive change and give back to communities, the tech company aims to provide aide to over 1,000 families of the financial center of North Central Luzon. From August 2 to 8, those affected by the floods can use the Samsung washing machines located in front of its Customer Service Plaza, ground floor of the IMC Building, Barangay 2 & 3 Corner Nueva Rizal Street in Dagupan City.

Repair service for refrigerators, washing machines, and televisions damaged by the flood will also be offered a P5,000.00 discount on its total repair cost.

“The passion to uplift people’s quality of life is deeply rooted in Samsung. We believe in making innovations that will answer the needs of our communities,” Lee added.

This program of lending a helping hand to disaster risk areas has been part of the continuous Samsung corporate citizenship efforts. Previously, through the Samsung Service Hope centers, victims of typhoons Ondoy (Ketsana) and Yolanda (Haiyan) were able to wash their clothes for free.

Dagupan gives P2-M musical instruments, equipment to students

By Ahikam Pasion (PNA)

DAGUPAN CITY -- The local government unit here has turned over PHP2 million worth of musical instruments and multimedia equipment to students of Dagupan City National High School Special Program for the Arts (SPA).

Mayor Belen Fernandez, in an interview on Thursday, said the instruments include several indigenous musical instruments, a variety of guitars, drum sets and keyboards, among others.

Aside from musical instruments, the local government also gave the students equipment like microphones, television sets, speakers and desktop computers.

“This is in order for them to produce quality output, and to enhance their skills in the multimedia and the arts,” she said.

In her message to the students during the turn-over ceremony on Tuesday, Fernandez emphasized her full support for the children’s passion for the arts and urged them to pursue their dreams, while fulfilling their obligation to learn at the same time.

“I want every young Dagupeño to finish their studies so they can all be competitive,” she added.

The awarded items will be placed in the SPA building -- a city-funded structure, which caters to students from Grade 7 to 10 with affinity to talents, creativity and the arts.

PhilHealth-Ilocos Region now ISO 9001: 2015 certified

By Hilda Austria (PNA)

DAGUPAN CITY—The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) in Region 1 has maintained excellent and reliable service to clients that enabled the issuance of certification from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9001:2015.

Joseph Abuan Manuel, information officer of PhilHealth-1, in an interview on Wednesday, said six offices except its two satellite offices in Region 1 (Ilocos Region) have passed the ISO certification.

“We will continue to follow what is written in the policies of PhilHealth in serving our clients,” he said.

The ISO certification covers member coverage management, benefit delivery, provider management, management and support processes, according to Manuel.

“The certification shows the commitment of PhilHealth in serving the Filipinos, and this is also the effort and dedication of all the employees of PhilHealth in Region 1,” he said.

Manuel noted that the feedback and complaints of clients are also taken into account in improving their compliance with the set standard policies of PhilHealth.

PhilHealth offices in Region 1 are situated in Laoag, Ilocos Norte; Vigan, Ilocos Sur; San Fernando, La Union; and the cities of Alaminos, Urdaneta and Dagupan in Pangasinan; while satellite offices are in San Carlos City in Pangasinan and Agoo in La Union.

Chinese Embassy donates food packs to Pangasinenses

By Hilda Austria (PNA)

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan -- The Chinese Embassy has donated 5,000 food packs for flood victims in Pangasinan province, which has been put under a state of calamity due to massive flooding caused by recent weather disturbances.

Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer Emilio Samson, in an interview Tuesday, said the food packs were sent to the province last Friday through the Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry - Pangasinan chapter.

Samson disclosed that the distribution of the food packs began last Saturday in the towns of Calasiao, Bugallon, Aguilar, Mangatarem, Bayambang, San Carlos City, Bautista, Urbiztondo, and Lingayen.

“The food packs contained 5 kg. of rice, five noodles, three sardines, and a bihon pack,” he said.

The flood victims have been receiving relief goods from various non-government organizations, while the provincial government has already distributed a total of 15,850 food packs, funded by its own budget, to the 19 severely affected municipalities and cities of the province, Samson added.

As of 10 a.m. Tuesday, 20 barangays in Binmaley, Dagupan City, San Carlos City, Sta. Barbara and Calasiao, remained flooded with 96 families or 406 persons still in the evacuation center in Dagupan City, based on the situational report of the Pangasinan Police.

Pangasinan was placed under a state of calamity last July 23 due to flooding caused by the southwest monsoon that was intensified by Tropical Depression Josie and Tropical Storm Inday, leaving extensive damage to the province's infrastructure, crops, and livestock.

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